After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with Him.  So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”  John 6:66-67

What caused the crowd following Jesus to turn aside?  It was Jesus’ words about eating His flesh because He told them He was the bread of heaven.  They were content to eat the bread He offered as long as it was a physical provision.  They had just consumed the loaves and fishes but as soon as He turned the topic to spiritual food, their interest faded.  The concept was just too radical.

Today, I can be similarly challenged.  I can pray for the miraculous provision necessary to pay an overdue bill but then reject the living Manna that promises to expose, then heal, my anger.  I will embrace bread for the body but reject bread for the soul.

Whatever landscape Jesus touches will change.  I am shortsighted if I only desire Him in the physical and not the spiritual.  I may ask Him to bring peace to my home but then forfeit the opportunity for Him to bring peace to the tormented places in my mind.  I may ask Him to bring healing to my body but still live in want of the inner healing of my deepest childhood wound.  I may ask Him to provide the next meal for my family yet fail to eat the sumptuous spiritual meal He wants to prepare for me each day.

Following Jesus is to embrace all of His teachings.  While He will allow me to pray for superficial things and give me the choice on whether or not to go deep, the only one who loses when I choose superficially is me.

You are my bread of life.  Sometimes You threaten the places where I’m comfortable, but I choose to feast on You anyway.  I am hungry.  Amen